PADDLER SAFETY GUIDELINES  — taken from our Operation Guidelines (revised Jan. 2024)

Fitness & Conditioning 

Preparation Suggestions:

• A physical checkup and consultation with your doctor about strenuous exercise before the season is recommended.

• Start your exercise program for aerobic capacity, strength and flexibility 

• Practice monitoring your heart rate 

• Keep a fitness log 

• Members may keep 2–4 (81 mg) ASA tablets on PFD to be used for angina or heart attack. 

Paddling: 

• Minimum 15 minute warm-up and stretching before paddling. 

• Keep hydrated! Take water with you and drink frequently. 

• Use sunscreen and WEAR A HAT.  UV exposure is higher on the water 

• Adjust your PFD to minimize binding and chafing 

• Stretch during rest breaks 

• Monitor your condition and report any distress symptoms (feeling faint, dizziness, nausea, etc.) to the Coach or Captain.

• Cool down and gentle stretching is recommended after the practice or race.
  

Clothing 

• Use several layers of clothing. Synthetic fabrics with wicking properties should form the under layer. Check out Polypropylene or Dri-Fit athletic shirts and briefs. 

• A second layer should be windproof, splash resistant and highly breathable.  A lighter spray resistant jacket of micro-dernier nylon may be the answer for warmer weather. 

• A toque for colder weather, a baseball cap or visor for hot weather and UV exposure. 

• Paddling pants or shorts of polyester micro-fiber dry quickly and have more stretch than conventional rain gear. Nylon pants or shorts are ideal for hot weather and provide wind and UV protection at a reasonable price. 

• Cotton garments are not recommended because of weight and moisture retention
  properties 

• Aquatic sandals or paddling shoes protect your feet are free draining and quick
  drying. For cooler weather, consider layering with wool work socks (warmth when wet) or even waterproof neoprene or similar insulating socks.

• Check out the gear worn by other paddlers before  spending on specialized clothing. Find out the pros and cons of several types of fabric and garments from experienced team mates. 

• Windproof sports garments are relatively cheap and can be used in a variety of situations so they might be a good starting point in your search for the ideal paddling outfit.

• Select paddling gloves to protect your hands from blistering, and UV exposure. Fingerless gloves are good choices for hot weather, full gloves for colder conditions. Often bicycle gloves will give blister protection at a cheaper cost than specialized paddling gloves. However, paddling gloves are more salt water resistant and Neoprene gloves are warmer for colder weather.

• Purchasing quality rain gear will prove to be more economical in the long run. 
  

Personal Flotation Device (PFD) - Team colour is RED

• PFDs are available for Team Members and sizing follows the usual S--M-L-XL pattern
  PFDs must be Coast Guard Certified

• PFDs should be kept rinsed and air dried periodically to prevent mildew.
  Don't leave them in your car trunk ... hang them up! 

• Using PFDs as cushions can damage the flotation.

• PFDs are designed for use with all fasteners adjusted and engaged. Do not wear an unbuckled or unzipped PFD in the boat... it may not support you in the water or slip off when you are immersed.
  

Paddler Responsibility

• Dressing according to guideline #2

• Following the procedure for boat stability in guideline #6 

• Wearing a properly fastened PFD at all times while in the boat 

• Keeping a set of warm clothing in your vehicle in case of emergency

• Identifying your paddling partner and the paddler immediately in front of you before
  leaving the dock 

• Paddlers to practice in water adjustment and swimming in PFDs

• Paddlers to practice boarding vessel from water via ladder

• Paddlers to practice HELP as noted in 7 against hypothermia

• Paddlers to have a whistle attached to their PFD or in their PFD pocket
  

Rescue Leader

• In the event of an emergency the Steersperson is the Rescue Leader of each boat

• The order of priority shall be: 

• The Steersperson 

• The Safety Boat operator 

• Once the Safety Boat operator has arrived on scene the Safety Boat operator shall
  be the Rescue Leader

• In certain situations (e.g. a boat operator inexperienced in rescue) the safety boat
  operator may designate an alternate (e.g. steersperson)

Stability Precautions 

     *Entering or leaving the boat is the time for the greatest care!*

• DO NOT step on the seat when entering or leaving the Dragon Boat 

• First be sure to secure the boat to the dock with mooring lines before entering or leaving 

• Bail excess water from the inside of the boat

• Load the boats front and back seats first; unload the boat from the centre seats 
  

Capsized Event  

Rescue guidelines are essential for the Nothin' Dragon Boat team because: 

• response time to be rescued by the Coast Guard may be in excess of 45 minutes; 

• other boats may not be in the area and/or not have rescue expertise; 

• ocean water temperatures in winter are about 5 C and in summer 20 C 

• in winter, severe hypothermia will occur in 30 to 60 minutes 

• survival time in 5 degrees Celsius is 1 to 3 hours and may be less for seniors  

• colder water robs the body of heat 32 times faster than colder air 

Guidelines:

  In the event of capsize each paddler will: 

• Let go of your paddle to avoid injuring yourself or another paddler

• Let your body go with the boat's roll 

• If you are on the high side, try to throw yourself clear of your paddling partner 

• If you come up under the boat, rise until you can catch a breath in the air pocket,
  then duck down and come up beside the boat 

• As soon as you surface, check that your paddling partner and the paddler
  immediately in front of you has surfaced

• The front seat paddlers are responsible for the drummer

• The rear seat paddlers are responsible for the steersperson 

• Remain with the boat, keep your eyes on the paddlers you are responsible for 

and assist them, if necessary, by maintaining their head above water 

• Advise the Rescue Leader of injured, distressed or missing paddlers 

• Retrieve your paddle only if it is within reach or nearby

• Keep calm, quiet and follow the directions of the Rescue Leader 

• If the boat is upright spread out evenly holding onto the gunnels

• If the boat is upside down, hold onto the hull as best as you can. You may also be able to link hands over the top of the boat with a paddler on the opposite side. 

• Assume the HELP position (described below) and huddle together should you find yourself and others not close to the boat. 

The Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) is:

• Arms held against the side; thighs together and knees raised and clenched to your chest as much as possible

The Rescue Leader will: 

• Assign a paddler to search for a missing paddler while other paddlers watch. 

• Send distress signal: 3 whistle blasts repeated several times, fire flares and call 911 and Coast Guard (*16) and assign a paddler/safety boat operator to signal distress. 

• Assign a paddler to assist an injured paddler into the safety boat where the distressed paddler will be provided with a wool hat and Emergency blanket. 

The Safety Boat operator will:

• Transfer distressed paddlers to safety 

• Once distressed paddlers are rescued, the safety boat operator will transfer paddlers, in small groups to safety which could be a boat that has not capsized or shore

• Remaining paddlers will spread evenly around the sides of the boat and swim the boat to safety if appropriate and/or await further rescue. 

• A boat offering assistance will be directed by the Rescue Leader as follows: 

• Approach from downwind at very slow speed 

• Ensure propellers are turned off in the vicinity of immersed paddlers 

• Instruct the boat's captain and direct the rescue of paddlers in the water
  

Survival Skills in the Water 

In the event of a capsizing or swamping, an immediate rescue effort will be triggered. In the meantime, it is important to:

• call 911

• assist the rescuers by staying with the boat

• stay together as a group and practice cold water survival techniques. 
  

Hypothermia 

Mild Hypothermia:  

Submersion in cold water will reduce core body temperature and may result in hypothermia.                       

Symptoms: 

Conscious, talking clearly and shivering. As it becomes more serious, the symptoms are: slowness of pace, stumbling, drowsiness, and fatigue 

Guidelines: 

1. Remove the distressed paddler from the water as soon as possible 

2. Provide the distressed paddler with a wool hat and space blanket

3. Remove the distressed paddler to a sheltered area

4. Replace wet clothing as soon as possible. 

Severe Hypothermia: 

If the victim is left in cold water for over thirty minutes, severe hypothermia may occur and if not treated, hypothermia may lead to death. 

Symptoms: Progressive loss of consciousness, blue skin coloration, possibly no detectable breathing, weak pulse. 

Guidelines: 

1. Follow the guidelines for mild hypothermia (above)

2. Immediately call 911 as medical attention is critical 

3. Provide CPR if necessary

4. Provide an alternate heat source if the distressed paddler is stiff or not shivering; 

5. DO NOT warm the extremities; 

6. DO NOT rub the surface of the body. 

Person Overboard
A sudden abrupt movement of the dragon boat, or when paddlers unexpectedly switch seats, can cause the Steersperson and/or one or more paddler(s) to go overboard. 

Guidelines: 

• If the person who fell overboard was not the Steersperson, then the steersperson will signal the safety boat and take command of the situation 

• If the person falling overboard is the Steersperson then the safety boat operator or designate will take command of the situation 

• The person falling overboard will be assisted back into the boat

• If the person falling overboard cannot be assisted back into the boat then the safety boat operator will assist the overboard person.